Free Practice Questions for Cyber AB CMMC-CCP Exam

TheLimited Practice Deficiency Correction Evaluationprocess occurs when anOrganization Seeking Certification (OSC)has undergone aCMMC Level 2 Assessmentby aCertified Third-Party Assessment Organization (C3PAO)and hasunresolved deficienciesin some security practices.

According toCMMC 2.0 policy and DFARS 252.204-7021, OSCs can still achieveInterim Certificationif they meet theminimum thresholdof security practices while addressing deficiencies through aPlan of Action & Milestones (POA&M).

TheCMMC 2.0 Interim Rulestates that an OSCmust meet at least 100 out of 110 practicesto qualify for aPOA&M-based remediation.

A maximum of 10 practices can be listed in the POA&Mfor later correction.

Failure to meet at least 100 practices results in failing the assessment outright, requiring a full reassessment after remediation.

The Lead Assessor can recommend POA&M placementonly if the OSC meets at least 100 practices.

Less than 100 practices scored as MET means the OSC does not qualify for a POA&Mand mustretest completely.

DFARS 252.204-7021 and CMMC 2.0 policiesconfirm the100-practice thresholdfor conditional certification.

A. 80 practices (Incorrect)– Falls well below the 100-practice requirement.

B. 88 practices (Incorrect)– Still below the POA&M eligibility threshold.

D. 110 practices (Incorrect)– While meeting 110 practices would be ideal,CMMC allows a POA&M option at 100 practices.

The correct answer isC. 100 practices, as this meets theminimum threshold for POA&M-based Interim Certification.

In the CMMC assessment process, conflicts of interest must be identified early to ensure an impartial and objective evaluation of an organization's compliance with CMMC 2.0 requirements. The appropriate phase for identifying conflicts of interest is during the"Verify Readiness to Conduct Assessment"phase.

Assessment Planning & Conflict of Interest Consideration

Before an assessment begins, theC3PAO (Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization)or theDIBCAC (Defense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center) for DOD-led assessmentsmust confirm that there are no conflicts of interest between assessors and the organization being assessed.

A conflict of interest may arise if an assessor haspreviously worked for, consulted with, or provided direct assistance tothe organization under review.

CMMC Assessment Process and PhasesThe CMMC assessment process involves multiple steps, and the verification of readiness is acritical early phaseto ensure that the assessment is unbiased:

Analyze Requirements:This phase focuses on defining the assessment scope, but it does not include conflict of interest verification.

Develop Assessment Plan:This phase focuses on structuring the assessment methodology, not on identifying conflicts.

Verify Readiness to Conduct Assessment (Correct Answer):

At this stage, theC3PAO or assessment team must review potential conflicts of interest.

TheDefense Industrial Base Cybersecurity Assessment Center (DIBCAC)also ensures assessors do not have any prior relationships that could compromise the objectivity of the evaluation.

Generate Final Recommended Assessment Results:This phase occurs at the end of the process, after the assessment is complete, so conflict of interest identification is too late by this stage.

Official CMMC Documentation & References

CMMC Assessment Process (CAP) Guide– The CAP details procedures assessors must follow, including conflict of interest verification.

CMMC 2.0 Scoping and Assessment Guides– Published by the Cyber AB and DoD, these guides reinforce the need for impartiality and independence in assessments.

DoD Instruction 5200.48 (Controlled Unclassified Information Program)– Outlines requirements for ensuring objective cybersecurity assessments.

Step-by-Step Explanation:By ensuring conflicts of interest are identified in the"Verify Readiness to Conduct Assessment"phase, the integrity of the CMMC certification process is maintained, ensuring that assessments are conductedfairly, independently, and in accordance with DoD cybersecurity policies.

Step 1: Define CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information)CUI is information thatrequires safeguarding or dissemination controlspursuant to and consistent with applicable law, regulations, and government-wide policies, butis not classifiedunder Executive Order 13526 or the Atomic Energy Act.

✅Step 2: Authority over CUI — NARA’s RoleNARA – National Archives and Records Administration, specifically theInformation Security Oversight Office (ISOO), is thegovernment-wide executive agentresponsible for implementing the CUI program.

Source:

32 CFR Part 2002 – Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Executive Order 13556 – Controlled Unclassified Information

CUI Registry – https://www.archives.gov/cui

NARA:

Maintains theCUI Registry,

Issuesmarking and handling guidance,

DefinesCUI categoriesand their authority under law or regulation,

Trains and informs Federal agencies and contractors on CUI policy.

B. NIST✘ NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) developstechnical standards(e.g., SP 800-171), but it doesnot define or mark CUI. It helps secure CUI once it’s identified.

C. CMMC-AB (now Cyber AB)✘ The Cyber AB is theCMMC ecosystem’s accreditation body, not a government agency, and hasno authority over CUI classification or marking.

D. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)✘ While DHS mayhandle and protect CUI internally, it is not the executive agent for the CUI program.

❌Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

NARAis theofficial U.S. government authorityresponsible for defining, categorizing, and marking CUI via theCUI Registryand associated policies underExecutive Order 13556.

Who Should Be Interviewed During a CMMC Assessment?During assessment planning, theOrganization Seeking Certification (OSC)may suggest personnel for interviews. However, the person interviewedmustbe someone who:

✅Implementsthe practice (directly responsible for executing it).

✅Performsthe practice (carries out day-to-day security operations).

✅Supportsthe practice (provides necessary resources or oversight).

Theassessor needs direct insightsfrom individuals actively involved in the practice.

Funding (Option A)does not providetechnical or operationalinsight into practice execution.

Auditing (Option B)focuses on compliance checks, but auditorsdo not implementthe practice.

Supporting, auditing, and performing (Option C)includesauditors, who arenot necessarily the right interviewees.

Why "Implements, Performs, or Supports That Practice" is Correct?Breakdown of Answer ChoicesOption

Description

Correct?

A. Funds that practice.

❌Incorrect–Funding is important but doesnot mean direct involvement.

B. Audits that practice.

❌Incorrect–Auditors check compliance but donot implementpractices.

C. Supports, audits, and performs that practice.

❌Incorrect–Auditing isnot a requirementfor interviewees.

D. Implements, performs, or supports that practice.

✅Correct – The interviewee must have direct involvement in execution.

CMMC Assessment Process Guide (CAP)– Requires that interviewees bedirectly responsiblefor implementing, performing, or supporting the practice.

Official References from CMMC 2.0 DocumentationFinal Verification and ConclusionThe correct answer isD. Implements, performs, or supports that practice, as the interviewee mustactively contribute to the execution of the practice.

CA.L2-3.12.1:"Periodically assess the security controls in organizational systems to determine if the controls are effective in their application."

This control is derived fromNIST SP 800-171, Requirement 3.12.1, which mandates organizations to performregular security control assessmentsto ensure compliance and effectiveness.

Evidence Review & Assessment Timeline:

The organization's procedureexplicitly statesthat security control assessments must be conductedquarterly(every three months).

Since the Lead Assessor only has access to thefirst-quarter report, the second-quarter report is missing at the time of assessment.

CMMC Audit Requirements:

For an assessor to rate a control asMET, sufficient evidence must bereadily availableat the time of evaluation.

Since the second-quarter report is missingat the time of assessment, the Lead Assessorcannot verify compliancewith the organization's own stated frequency of assessment.

Why the Answer is NOT A, C, or D:

A (Sufficient, MET)→Incorrect: The control assessment frequency is quarterly, but the evidence for Q2 is not available. Compliance cannot be confirmed.

C (Sufficient, and re-rate later)→Incorrect: If evidence is not available during the audit, the controlcannot be rated as MET initially. There is no provision in CMMC 2.0 to "conditionally" pass a control pending future evidence.

D (Insufficient, but re-rate later)→Incorrect: Once a control is ratedNOT MET, it staysNOT METuntil a re-assessment is conducted in a new audit cycle. The assessordoes not adjust ratings retroactivelybased on future evidence.

Control Reference: CA.L2-3.12.1Assessment Criteria & Justification for the Correct Answer:

CMMC Assessment Process (CAP) Guide (2023):

"For a control to be rated as MET, the assessed organization must provide sufficient evidence at the time of the assessment."

"If evidence is missing or incomplete, the finding shall be rated as NOT MET."

NIST SP 800-171A (Security Requirement Assessment Guide):

"Evidence must be current, relevant, and sufficient to demonstrate compliance with stated periodicity requirements."

Since the procedure mandatesquarterly assessments, missing evidence means compliancecannot be validated.

DoD CMMC Scoping Guidance:

"Assessors shall base their determination on the evidence provided at the time of assessment. If required evidence is not available, the control shall be rated as NOT MET."

Official CMMC 2.0 References Supporting the Answer:

Final Conclusion:Thecorrect answer is Bbecause the required evidence (the second-quarter report) is not availableat the time of assessment, making itinsufficientto validate compliance. The Lead Assessormust rate the control as NOT METin accordance with CMMC 2.0 assessment rules.

Step 1: Understand the Assessor’s Role and Chain of ResponsibilityDuring a CMMC assessment, the assessor ispart of the team organized by a C3PAO (Certified Third-Party Assessment Organization). If the assessor determines thatevidence is insufficient or inadequate, they arenot authorizedto act independently in terms of halting or postponing the assessment.

Source Reference: CMMC Assessment Process (CAP) v1.0 – Section 3.5.4 & 3.5.6

"If the Assessment Team identifies gaps in the sufficiency or adequacy of evidence, they must work with the Lead Assessor and C3PAO to determine the appropriate course of action."

The C3PAO is responsible for overseeing the assessment lifecycle.

If evidence isnot adequate, the assessor mustescalate within their organization(i.e., to the Lead Assessor or C3PAO point of contact) to:

Request clarifications from the OSC,

Determine if additional evidence can be requested,

Decide on continuing, pausing, or modifying the assessment schedule.

✅Step 2: Why Contacting the C3PAO Is the Correct Action

A. Notify the CMMC-AB✘ Incorrect. The Cyber AB (formerly CMMC-AB) isnot involved in operational aspectsof assessments. They do not manage day-to-day assessment decisions.

B. Cancel the assessment✘ Incorrect. An assessorcannot unilaterally cancelan assessment. Only theC3PAO, in consultation with all parties, may take such action.

C. Postpone the assessment✘ Incorrect. Postponements are logistical decisions that must be managed through theC3PAO, not an individual assessor.

❌Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

When an assessor determines that the evidence submitted by an OSC is inadequate or insufficient to meet a CMMC practice, thecorrect and required course of action is to consult with the C3PAO. The C3PAO will provide guidance or coordinate appropriate next steps.

Understanding CMMC Asset Scoping RequirementsBefore conducting aCMMC Level 2 Assessment, anOrganization Seeking Certification (OSC)must define theassessment scopeby categorizing all assets. This ensures that only relevant systems are assessed againstCMMC practices, reducing unnecessary compliance burdens.

According to theCMMC Scoping Guide for Level 2, there are four asset categories:

CUI Assets– Assets that process, store, or transmitControlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

Security Protection Assets (SPA)– Assets that providesecurity functions(e.g., firewalls, intrusion detection systems, identity management systems).

Contractor Risk Managed Assets (CRMA)– Assets thatdo not directly store/process CUIbut interact with CUI environments (e.g., BYOD devices, personal computers used for remote access).

Specialized Assets– Unique systems such asOperational Technology (OT), IoT, and Government Furnished Equipment (GFE), which may requirelimitedCMMC assessment.

Which Asset Categories Are Always Assessed?✅1. CUI Assets(ALWAYS ASSESSED)

These are theprimary focusof CMMC Level 2 since they handleCUI.

All110 NIST SP 800-171 controlsapply to these assets.

✅2. Security Protection Assets (SPA)(ALWAYS ASSESSED)

Security tools that protectCUI Assetsarealways includedin the assessment.

Examples includefirewalls, antivirus, endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools, and identity management systems.

(A) CUI Assets and Specialized Assets❌

CUI Assets are assessed, butSpecialized Assets are only assessed in a limited manner, depending on their role inCUI security.

(C) Specialized Assets and Contractor Risk Managed Assets❌

Specialized Assets and CRMAsare typicallynot fully assessedagainst CMMC controls unless they directly impactCUI security.

(D) Security Protection Assets and Contractor Risk Managed Assets❌

SPAs are always assessed, butCRMAs are not necessarily assessedunless they directly impact CUI.

TheCMMC Scoping Guide (Level 2)clearly states thatCUI Assets and Security Protection Assetsarealways assessedagainst CMMC practices.

Why the Other Answer Choices Are Incorrect:Final Validation from CMMC Documentation:Thus, the correct answer is:

B. Security Protection Assets and CUI Assets.

Understanding the CMMC Assessment ProcessTheCMMC Assessment Process (CAP)consists offour phases, each with specific tasks and objectives.

Phase 1: Plan and Prepare Assessment– Planning, scheduling, and preparing for the assessment.

Phase 2: Conduct Assessment–Gathering and verifying evidence, conducting interviews, and evaluating compliance.

Phase 3: Report Recommended Assessment Results– Documenting findings and reporting results.

Phase 4: Remediation of Outstanding Assessment Issues– Allowing the organization to address any deficiencies.

Why "Phase 2: Conduct Assessment" is Correct?DuringPhase 2: Conduct Assessment, theAssessment Teamperforms key activities, including:

✅Identifying required evidencefor compliance verification.

✅Obtaining and reviewing artifacts(e.g., security policies, configurations, logs).

✅Verifying the sufficiency of evidenceagainst CMMC practice requirements.

✅Interviewing key personneland observing cybersecurity implementations.

Since the question specifically mentions"identify, obtain inventory, and verify evidence,"this task directly falls underPhase 2: Conduct Assessment.

Breakdown of Answer ChoicesOption

Description

Correct?

A. Phase 1: Plan and Prepare Assessment

❌Incorrect–This phase focuses onscheduling, logistics, and planning, not evidence collection.

B. Phase 2: Conduct Assessment

✅Correct – This phase involves gathering, verifying, and reviewing evidence.

C. Phase 3: Report Recommended Assessment Results

❌Incorrect–This phasedocumentsresults but doesnotcollect evidence.

D. Phase 4: Remediation of Outstanding Assessment Issues

❌Incorrect–This phase focuses oncorrective actions, not evidence collection.

CMMC Assessment Process Guide (CAP)–Phase 2: Conduct Assessmentexplicitly includes tasks such asgathering and verifying evidence.

Official References from CMMC 2.0 DocumentationFinal Verification and ConclusionThe correct answer isB. Phase 2: Conduct Assessment, as this phase includesidentifying, obtaining, and verifying evidence, which is critical for determining CMMC compliance.

Understanding CMMC 2.0 Levels and Their DescriptionsTheCybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) 2.0consists ofthree levels, each representing increasing cybersecurity maturity:

Level 1 – Foundational

Focuses onbasic cyber hygiene

Implements17 practicesaligned withFAR 52.204-21

Primarily protectsFederal Contract Information (FCI)

Level 2 – Advanced(Correct Answer)

Focuses onprotecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Implements110 practicesaligned withNIST SP 800-171

Requirestriennial third-party assessments for critical programs

Level 3 – Expert

Focuses onadvanced cybersecurityagainstAPT (Advanced Persistent Threats)

ImplementsNIST SP 800-171 and additional NIST SP 800-172 controls

Requirestriennial government-led assessments

TheCMMC 2.0 framework explicitly describes Level 2 as "Advanced."

Italigns with NIST SP 800-171to ensure robustCUI protection.

A. Expert (Incorrect)– This describesLevel 3, not Level 2.

C. Optimizing (Incorrect)– Not a defined CMMC level description.

D. Continuously Improved (Incorrect)– CMMC does not use this terminology.

The correct answer isB. Advanced, which accurately describesCMMC Level 2.